Important Facts For Prelims
Monkey Rehabilitation Centre
- 21 Dec 2020
- 2 min read
Why in News
A rescue and rehabilitation centre for monkeys(Primate) was opened recently in Telangana.
Key Points
- A primate is any mammal of the group that includes lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys, apes, and humans.
- It is the second such facility for the primates in the country. The other such facility in the country is in Himachal Pradesh.
- Previously the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had declared Monkeys (Rhesus Macaque) as ‘vermin’ in Himachal Pradesh.
- It allowed local authorities to cull this animal in certain identified non-forest areas in Shimla for one year.
- The state government reported harm to life and property including large-scale destruction of agriculture due to the overpopulation of this species outside forests.
- Rhesus Macaque monkeys are protected species under Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The law allows for it to be hunted by declaring it ‘vermin’ for a specific period if it poses a danger to human life or property.
- Vermin Animal
- As per Section 62 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, states can send a list of wild animals to the Centre requesting it to declare them vermin for selective slaughter.
- Wildlife laws divide species into ‘schedules’ ranked from I to V. Schedule I members are the best protected, in theory, with severe punishments meted out to those who hunt them.
- Wild boars, nilgai and rhesus monkeys are Schedule II and III members, it is also protected, but can be hunted under specific conditions.
